Israel, Greece sign SOFA

SENIOR MEMBER

Yaakov Lappin, Tel Aviv and Jeremy Binnie, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
23 July 2015
In a move that reflects the growing scope of joint military training and bilateral defence co-operation between Israel and Greece, the two Mediterranean countries signed a status of forces accord (SOFA) on 19 July.

The SOFA is the second signed by Israel with another country, the other being the United States.

It regulates legal protocols for Israeli and Greek military personnel when they are in each other's territory.

IDF training in Greece has grown notably in recent years and included a number of large-scale joint air force and naval exercises.

Greek defence minister Panos Kammenos, who visited his Israeli counterpart Moshe Ya'alon in Tel Aviv to sign the accord, said the two countries had shared security concerns as his country is within range of Iranian missiles and Sunni jihadist terrorism is also present in the Balkans and Europe.Israel, Greece sign SOFA - IHS Jane's 360